Republican Sherwood wins open seat in Pennsylvania's 10th House district

The open seat was created by the retirement of popular Republican Rep. Joseph McDade, who is stepping down after 36 years in the House.

Sherwood, considered one of the GOP's most promising candidates this year, stressed saving Social Security, cutting taxes and bringing home federal dollars.

"We need to bring home the money that we've sent to Washington," said Sherwood, who had McDade's endorsement.

Casey, the son of popular former Gov. Bob Casey, focused on local issues. "Pat Casey. In Congress he'll fight for a ban on dumping out-of-state garbage in northeastern Pennsylvania," one of Casey's TV ads declared.

Much of the northeastern Pennsylvania district has been in economic decline for a generation; young people leave and the old are left behind. So both candidates talked jobs and Social Security.

While there was little explicit talk about President Bill Clinton's troubles during the campaign, Sherwood is thought to have benefitted from some fallout from the scandal.

"There are people who are very upset about the president," Sherwood said before election day. "But I have not felt that I want to make it a partisan issue in the campaign, so I have not had a lot of comment about it."

Republicans poured money into the race. An "Operation Breakout" advertisement appeared, promoting Republican efforts to help Social Security.

CNN's Brooks Jackson and political analyst Stuart Rothenberg contributed to this report.